Our Story

RAINRAPS started as a simple idea on a rainy day. Stacy Struminger, a New Yorker transplanted to Richmond, VA, had long seen the need for a more stylish, lightweight, water repellent accessory in the often wet and humid Richmond climate.

In the spring of 2011, a weeklong rainstorm left Stacy frustrated by the lack of a fashionable, waterproof garment in her wardrobe. Searching her coat closet in vain, Stacy had the inspiration for a water repellent wrap that was not only utilitarian but also stylish.

Sharing her idea with her best friend, Rachel Teyssier, they decided together to make the vision a reality.

Hence, a revolution in the development of fashionable water repellent outerwear began and RAINRAPS was developed.

Stacy Struminger (Founder & President) – Stacy Struminger graduated from Syracuse University with a major in Retail Marketing. She worked for 10 years with Burlington Coat Factory as a buyer and helped establish its Baby Depot subsidiary. Working closely with the founder of Baby Depot, Stacy was instrumental in developing key pieces of baby furniture that have become a staple in the industry. After meeting her husband and moving from Manhattan to Richmond, Virginia, Stacy was a busy stay-at-home mom with a yearning to get back into creative retail.

Rachel Teyssier (Co-Founder & Vice President) – Rachel Teyssier graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a major in Journalism. Having worked for several years in the magazine industry in Manhattan, Rachel moved to the non-profit sector, first in Philadelphia and then in Chicago, where she was the Associate Director of Meeting Planning for the National Office of the Alzheimer’s Association. Prior to starting RAINRAPS, Rachel oversaw the start up of a web-based software company in central Virginia.